plate no. 1896

The Catapult

oil, canvasAcademicismhistory paintingfiguresarchitecturesiegeweaponancient Romecity

advanced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, foreshortening, and rendering complex architectural structures. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 40 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and forms using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to develop the value structure.
step 04
Start refining the details of the figures, paying attention to anatomy and foreshortening.
step 05
Add details to the architectural elements and the catapult.
step 06
Introduce local color and subtle variations in hue.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use small amounts of red and yellow to create warmer tones for the figures and architecture. Add blue to create cooler tones for the background and shadows.

techniques